Money Matters:
Cash, Credit Cards & Foreign Currency
In 10 Seconds
1. Skip the airport currency kiosk; use a bank ATM at your destination
2. Travel with a card that has no foreign transaction fees
3. Always pay in local currency, never “convert to USD”
4. Carry a little cash, split up in different places
5. Set a travel notice and save your card’s international phone number
6. Pack a backup card and keep it separate
Want the why behind all that? Keep reading. It’s where the money is …literally.
Let’s talk about money. Not the fun part where you spend it on gelato in Rome; the part where you keep more of it in your pocket and less of it in the hands of airport kiosks, sneaky ATM screens, and banks that charge you a fee for the privilege of being their customer.
Because here’s the truth nobody puts on the postcard: more vacations get dinged by money mistakes than by lost luggage. And every single one of them is preventable if you know what you’re doing before you go.
So pour yourself some coffee. Class is in session.
Rule One: The Airport Currency Kiosk Is Not Your Friend
I don’t care how convenient it looks. That shiny little currency exchange counter at the airport is charging you a markup that would make a used car salesman blush. Often 10 to 15 percent worse than the real exchange rate, plus a fee on top for good measure.
If you exchange $500 at one of those counters, you can kiss $50–75 goodbye before your trip even starts. That’s a nice dinner. That’s a museum pass and a bottle of wine. Gone.
What to do instead: get your foreign cash from an ATM after you land …ideally one attached to an actual bank, not a freestanding machine in a souvenir shop. Bank ATMs give you close to the real exchange rate, and even with a small fee, you’ll come out miles ahead.
Rule Two: Know Your Cards Before You Pack Them
Not all credit cards travel well. Some of them charge a “foreign transaction fee” …usually about 3% on every single purchase you make abroad. Doesn’t sound like much until you realize it’s $30 for every $1,000 you spend, just for the honor of swiping.
Before you go, check your cards (call the number on the back or peek at your account online) and find out:
- Does it charge foreign transaction fees? If yes, leave it home or use it only for emergencies.
- Is it Visa or Mastercard? These are accepted nearly everywhere. American Express and Discover are hit-or-miss overseas.
- Does it have a chip and tap-to-pay? Most of the world runs on contactless now. If your card still needs a swipe-and-signature, it’s practically an antique.
If none of your cards are travel-friendly, there are plenty with no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee. Getting one takes ten minutes and pays for itself on your very first trip.
Rule Three: When the Machine Asks a Trick Question, Don’t Fall For It
This one’s my favorite because it’s a genuine con, dressed up polite.
At some point abroad, at a restaurant, a shop, or an ATM a screen will ask you something like: “Would you like to pay in US dollars or local currency?”
It sounds helpful. It is not. It’s called dynamic currency conversion, and choosing “US dollars” means the merchant’s machine gets to set the exchange rate and I promise you, they do not set it in your favor. The markup is usually 5 to 10 percent, and it goes straight into somebody else’s pocket.
Always choose the local currency. Every time. Euros in Paris, pesos in Cancun, yen in Tokyo. Let your bank do the conversion …that’s their job, and they do it at a far fairer rate.
Tattoo it on your wrist if you have to: local currency, always.
Rule Four: Cash Still Matters! But Not a Suitcase Full
Yes, the world runs on cards now. But cash still earns its keep for:
- Tips: housekeeping, drivers, tour guides
- Markets and street food: where the best stuff lives
- Taxis and small shops: especially in smaller towns
- The bathroom attendant in Europe who will absolutely not let you in without a coin
You don’t need a fortune. A modest amount of local currency …enough for a day or two of small spending is plenty, and you can top it up at a bank ATM as you go.
And whatever you do, don’t keep it all in one place. Some in your day bag, some in the hotel safe, some tucked somewhere on your person. If a pickpocket gets lucky, they get a portion, not the whole trip.
Rule Five: Tell Your Bank You’re Leaving (Yes, Still)
A lot of banks have gotten smarter and don’t require travel notices anymore, but “a lot” is not “all,” and finding out yours is old-fashioned while your card gets declined at a checkout counter in Lisbon is not the memory you’re going for.
Two minutes in your banking app before you leave. Set the travel notice if they offer it. Cheap insurance.
While you’re in there, jot down the international collect number on the back of each card (the regular 800 number won’t work from overseas). Keep it somewhere that isn’t your wallet because if the wallet’s the thing that goes missing, the phone number inside it won’t do you much good.
Rule Six: Bring a Backup
One card is a plan. Two cards, kept in separate places, is a smart plan. Cards get eaten by ATMs, frozen by overeager fraud departments, and occasionally left behind at dinner. A backup card in the hotel safe turns a crisis into a shrug.
One Last Thing…
Here’s what I’ve learned after years of doing this: the money stuff is just one layer of trip planning that trips people up. There’s also the flights, the hotels, the transfers, the travel insurance fine print, the “wait, do I need a visa?” panic at midnight…
That’s where I come in. As a travel advisor, this is what I do! I handle the details that keep you up at night so your only job is showing up and enjoying yourself. And most of the time, my planning doesn’t cost you a dime more than booking it yourself. You just get it done right the first time.
So if you’re dreaming about a trip …near, far, or somewhere in the middle, reach out and let’s talk. I’ll bring the spreadsheets. You bring the wish list.
One page at a time, we’re building a smarter way to travel.
XOXO, Jani
Last updated: August 2026. Exchange rates, card policies, and bank practices change. I review this guide periodically to keep it current. If you spot something that’s changed, let me know!
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